why do some restaurants have a dress code...

[Sweet Melissa]

Where, specifically, did you see a dress code go unenforced?

The only places I've seen the dress code not be enforced are the in-park signatures. We ate at Brown Derby last week and there were so many ball caps in the dining room. I understand that pretty much anything goes in the park restaurants. I've never encountered the same at a resort signature, though.

 

[sleepydog25]

Where, specifically, did you see a dress code go unenforced?

The only places I've seen the dress code not be enforced are the in-park signatures. We ate at Brown Derby last week and there were so many ball caps in the dining room. I understand that pretty much anything goes in the park restaurants. I've never encountered the same at a resort signature, though.

Though not the OP, I had unenforced code, er, guidelines at both CG and AP. Both times involved what I would consider slovenly shorts and sandals/flip-flops, and one also included t-shirts and ball caps. In no instance did the diners behave poorly, nor would I ever suggest there is a connection, but it is still a slight shame that folks can't be bothered to dress up just a little better for a signature restaurant. Then again, I find dressing up heightens a night out for me.

 

[KateB]

We always eat at signature restaurants and this last trip saw many people told that they were not dressed appropriately. I was surprised and thought that the guests must have felt embarrassed. I was glad those the enforce not since we always dress up.

 

[3pletprincesses]

We dress up for signature meals but I honnestely have to say that I don't care what other people wear. We are there as a couple/family and couldn't careless about the others. I would be more annoyed by loud people wearing suits then by quiet people wearing park attire.

 

[disnut8]

We always eat at signature restaurants and this last trip saw many people told that they were not dressed appropriately. I was surprised and thought that the guests must have felt embarrassed. I was glad those the enforce not since we always dress up.

And Disney turned those folks away? The Cast Members actually told them they couldn't enter the restaurant and enjoy the meal for which they had a advanced dining reservation?

 

[KateB]

And Disney turned those folks away? The Cast Members actually told them they couldn't enter the restaurant and enjoy the meal for which they had a advanced dining reservation?

No they asked them to take off hats and handed men suit jackets to cover t shirts.

 

[Colleen27]

No they asked them to take off hats and handed men suit jackets to cover t shirts.

At a regular signature restaurant (not V&A)? T-shirts are expressly allowed by the Disney dress code so I don't see that happening at the resort signatures. Taking off hats, sure, that does seem to be the one element that is enforced, probably because it doesn't require a trip back to one's own resort to change clothes, but I'd be surprised if the resort sigs had 'loaner' suit jackets on hand.

 

[KateB]

At a regular signature restaurant (not V&A)? T-shirts are expressly allowed by the Disney dress code so I don't see that happening at the resort signatures. Taking off hats, sure, that does seem to be the one element that is enforced, probably because it doesn't require a trip back to one's own resort to change clothes, but I'd be surprised if the resort sigs had 'loaner' suit jackets on hand.

I was shocked too. DH even commented that after a hot day in the parks the last thing he wanted to do what put on a "used" jacket.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Hats on men are on the "not permitted" list.

But since t-shirts are clearly allowed, the only reason I can think of is that they somehow had offensive words or pictures on their T-shirts (which, as we all know, many people do)

And I know V&A has a collection of loaner jackets, but I too am suprised that a regular Signature had them.

KateB: Do you remember WHICH restaurant did the jacket thing??

 

[aubriee]

I had a friend get turned away at the California Grill because she was wearing jeans that had rips in them. They weren't trashy jeans that had rips by her butt cheeks or anything. They were actually designer jeans that had a few rips. They were sold that way. I found it kind of funny because I'm sure she spent lots if money on the jeans.

I've posted on here before abut seeing a lady turned away at Yachtsman for wearing jeans like those. She blew her top demanding a manager and screaming, "Do you know how much these designer jeans cost". She was also wearing a very nice shiny blouse and stilletto heels. Probably due to her shreaking voice, but a manager was already on his way out, by the time she finished shreaking for him. I was sort of surprised when he turned them away too. He just calmly told her that he was sure the dress code was explained to them at the time they made the reservation and that torn clothing was not allowed, no matter what they cost and if they were made that way or not.

The only other place I have ever seen anyone turned away was at Jikos a few years ago. The young couple checking in just ahead of me were turned away. Both had wet hair and swimsuits and had obviously just came from the pool. (My first thought were they were pool hopping just prior to their ADR.) lol He was wearing wet flowered shorts, a tshirt, and cheap flip flops. His dress didn't seem to be the problem though. Hers was. She had on a bright flowered bikini under a very short, see through lace, button up, coverup. She kept trying to convince the hostess that the lace coverup was actually a dress. lol They weren't buying it. Especially with them both being dripping wet.

 

[ArthurFiggis]

We dress up for signature meals but I honnestely have to say that I don't care what other people wear. We are there as a couple/family and couldn't careless about the others. I would be more annoyed by loud people wearing suits then by quiet people wearing park attire.

I gotta go with this. To butcher the old saying, clothes no longer make the person. A jerk in a suit is still a jerk. A polite person in a pair of shorts is still a polite person.

That being said, my first signature restaurant experience was at Narcoosee's. It was a last minute reservation on my honeymoon. I was wearing a t-shirt, jeans, a WDW ball cap and my new Mickey hoodie. I felt a bit embarrassed and under-dressed, but received a smile and a nod when I took my hat off when I entered the dining room. It was such a nice experience that I went back on my next trip for my honey-less-moon.

 

[rainydayplay]

Maybe its me but i dont get how another persons attire affects your dinner unless its offensive

A few years ago, I was with my DD. On our down day, we had an ADR at Narcoosee's. We dressed up -- dresses, which, yes, more than was necessary, but I wanted it to be a nice experience. So, to get there and see a few people in tank tops and hats when I took the time to dress up because there was a stated "dress code" was a little aggravating, but did not ruin my meal. (On the contrary, my meal was ruined by my being dehydrated, and it just really didn't hit me until I got there. Waiter was awesome, though, and absolutely took care of me, getting me Tylenol and a huge bottle of water, and getting everything boxed and bagged so I could take it back to the resort.)

I've posted on here before abut seeing a lady turned away at Yachtsman for wearing jeans like those. She blew her top demanding a manager and screaming, "Do you know how much these designer jeans cost". She was also wearing a very nice shiny blouse and stilletto heels. Probably due to her shreaking voice, but a manager was already on his way out, by the time she finished shreaking for him. I was sort of surprised when he turned them away too. He just calmly told her that he was sure the dress code was explained to them at the time they made the reservation and that torn clothing was not allowed, no matter what they cost and if they were made that way or not.

A little OT, but I teach...and we have issues with dress code. Like, a few years ago, we were told NO holes in jeans...so at the beginning of the school year, we were all sending kids to the office left and right for holes. Parents complained, and it went to no holes that reveal anything (which, to an extent, I think is treated as no holes above the knees...) If the kids (mostly girls) wear leggings under them, then no one says anything about the holes in the pants. There was one girl who had on a pair of jeans that were connected below the front pockets, then had no thread at all until right above the hem. The pants flapped as she walked, but she had on leggings under them. Then you see the parents. There was a parent that came in for an honors day program with 4+ inch heels and jeans that were shredded all the way down the front -- all thread and no actual fabric all down the front.